PM Browne rejects call for WICB dissolution

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Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister Gaston Browne said yesterday that he "categorically reject" the call for the dissolution of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), to pave the way for the emergence of a new governance structure.

Speaking in his capacity as chairman of the Caricom Committee governing West Indies cricket, Prime Minister Browne predicted that the regional game would be plunged into "further chaos and confusion" if the WICB were to be dissolved.

The Prime Minister was addressing an audience which included WICB president Dave Cameron during a function in St John's observing 90 years since the WICB became a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

"Today, I categorically reject the call for the dissolution of the West Indies Cricket Board and I do so in my capacity as chairman of the Caricom Cricket Committee governing West Indies cricket," Prime Minister Browne said.

"I believe firmly that to dissolve the West Indies Cricket Board would be to plunged West Indies cricket into further chaos and confusion".

The Antiguan leader's public revelation puts him at odds with Grenada's Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell, the current chairman of CARICOM's Sub-committee on cricket governance.

Dr Mitchell has been at the forefront of spearheading efforts to effect the restructuring of the WICB and fully endorsed the recent Barriteau Report which last year recommended "the immediate dissolution" of the embattled WICB.

The Barriteau Report was commissioned by CARICOM with agreement from the WICB and authored by UWI Cave Hill Principal, Professor Eudine Barriteau but the WICB rejected the findings.